PAS and AP as tools for silencing and downplaying violence against women and minors, and their use in Italian courts in child custody proceedings

Journal title MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA
Author/s Caterina Arcidiacono, Antonietta Bozzaotra, Gabriella Ferrari Bravo
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2025/3
Language Italian Pages 20 P. 15-34 File size 107 KB
DOI 10.3280/MAL2025-003002
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In separation and divorce procedures, contrary to widespread beliefs, intimate partner violence does not disappear with the end of cohabitation but actually escalates. It manifests itself through accusations directed at women victims of violence, claiming that they are preventing the father from having contact with the children. Therefore, by virtue of the construct of parental alienation — in any of its formulations — despite being considered obsolete by scientific literature, the protective behaviors enacted by women to shield their sons and daughters from the violent father are interpreted in judicial procedures as acts of parental alienation. As a result, a report of violence and abuse by the partner is often met with a counter-accusation of alleged parental alienation, the implications of which on the child’s well-being ‒ though evident ‒ are silenced. International organizations and associations have challenged this pseudo-construct and denounced its harmful effects on the health of adolescents and children.

Keywords: Parental alienation (PAS/AP), secondary victimization, children custody, Itimate partner violence, reunification treatment.

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Caterina Arcidiacono, Antonietta Bozzaotra, Gabriella Ferrari Bravo, PAS e AP come strumento di silenziamento e sottovalutazione della violenza su donne e minori e il loro uso nei Tribunali italiani nei procedimenti per l’affidamento dei figli in "MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA" 3/2025, pp 15-34, DOI: 10.3280/MAL2025-003002